Updated on February 17 // 2:19AM
The Philippines would rotate the deployment of vessels at the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) starting this month in a bid to providemore protection to Filipino fishermen, the National Security Council (NSC) said.
“The national government has directed the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to deploy their vessels for rotational deployment in BdM starting this month,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said.
The PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua earlier completed its successful nine-day patrol at the Bajo de Masinloc from Feb. 1 to 9, while the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Tamblot started its patrols on Feb. 14.
Año also denied the claims of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) that it expelled PCG and BFAR vessels in the area as he reaffirmed the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the shoal.
“There is no truth to the statement of the Chinese Coast Guard that it expelled a BFAR vessel and PCG vessel that allegedly intruded into their waters,” he said.
The PCG on Sunday accused Chinese vessels of “dangerous” maneuvers during a nine-day patrol around Scarborough Shoal.
It said CCG vessels “performed dangerous and blocking maneuvers at sea against the Teresa Magbanua four times, with the CCG vessels crossing the bow of the PCG vessel twice.”
Bajo de Masinloc is 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of thePhilippines’ main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan.
It has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
Since then, Beijing has deployed patrol boats that Manila said harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from reaching the lagoon where fish are more plentiful.